Tube flanger



May 8, 1928.

W. W. ANDREWS TUBE FLANGER Filed Aug. 31. 1926 Vlvlvkg Patented May 8, 1928.

WALT R w. ANDREWS, or MONTG MER ALABAML TUBE FLANGER.

I ,yApplication filed August 31, 1926. Serial No. 132,776.

This invention relates to dies and more particularly to a die-by means of which flanges may be formed-upon metal tubing.

One object of the invention'is to provide a die which may be held in one hand while a flange is being formed upon a tube secured in the die.

. Another object of the invention is to provide the die with jaws between which tubes of various diameters may be gripped and flanges formed upon the tubes through the medium of a punch, one end of which is tapered so that it may be used in connection with any tube accommodated by the die.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the jaws forming the die that they may be readily swung into and out of gripping engagement with a tube and to further provide improved means for securing them in a gripping position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing the improved die in top plan with portions of the jaws broken away at one end;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the jaws swjimg apart to receive a tube to be flanged; an

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with theflangeforming punch in engagement with the tube.

The die constituting the subject-matter of this invention includes companion jaws 1 and 2 which may be formed of steel or any other strong metal. The jaws are provided at each end with forks 3 and 4 and have their inner side edge faces cut to provide recesses 5. The recesses are semicircular in cross section and when the jaws are closed, as shown in Fig. 1, register to form sockets 6. The sockets 6 are of various diameters so that tubes 7 of different sizes may be gripped between the jaws. It will, of course, be

. understood that the sockets will be formed the forks or hinge ears 4 where it is secured by pins 10. It will thus be seen that the jawsmay he swung from an open position shown in Fig. 2 to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. A link 11 is pivotally mounted between the forks 3 at the other. end of the jaw 2 through the medium of a pin-12 and is of sulficient length to project from the jaw 1 when moved into position to extend between its forks 3.' A cam 13 is pivoted to the projected end of the link 11 by means of apinl l and this cam carries a handle 15 by means of which it may be easily rotated and moved into pressing engagement with the outer side edge face of the jaw 1. It will thus be seen that after the jaws have been swung to a closed position with a tube fitted into an appropriate socket 6 and the link 11 moved to extend between the forks Y 3 of the jaw 1 the handle 15 may be swung towards the jaw 1 and the cam will cause the two jaws to be forced towards each other and securely held in tight gripping enga ement with the tube. The die may now e held in one hand and the tapered end 16 of the punch 17 fitted into the projecting upper end of the tube, as shown in Fig. 3. The punch is supported by the thumb and one or more fingers of the hand in which the die is held and its upper end struck with a hammer or other suitable driving implement. The blows will cause the tapered end of the punch to be forced into the tube and spread it outwardly into fiat contacting engagement with the annular shoulder 8 thereby easily and quickly forming a flange upon the tube. It will thus be seen that by means of this die and punch a flange may be very easily and accurately'formed upon a metal tube, such as used in ice machines, fuel lines for automobile engines and in other machines whereit is necessary to flange thev ends of pipe sections in order to secure them in place. After the flange has been formed, the handle of the cam is swung away from the jaw 1 and the link 11 swung from be tween its forks 3 so that the two jaws may I be separated and the tube removed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A tube-flanging implement comprising a die consisting of companion jaws formed as bars and having adjacent side faces formed with recesses adapted to register and form an open-ended socket to receive a tube to be flanged, the end portions of said jaws being formed with spaced longitudinally extending forks at one end of the die, and the other ends of the jaws being formed wit-h' longitudinally extending hingeears, a flat hinge plate extending transversely of the jaws and having rounded end portions pivotally mounted between said hinge ears, a flat link pivoted between the forks of one jaw and of a length to extend transversely of the die between the forks of the other jaw with a portion projecting beyond the outer side face of the second jaw, a campivoted to the projected portion of said link and provided with an actuating handle whereby the cam may be turned to engage the outer side face of the second jaw and force the jaws into gripping engagement with a tube disposed in the socket between the jaws, and a punch formed with an end adapted to be inserted into the end of a tube gripped between the jaws and form a flange thereon when the other end of the punch is struck.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WALTER W. ANDREWS. [L s.] 

